And it
naturally lowers sodium intake — a mineral thought to increase fluid retention and inflammation — by limiting packaged foods like chips and processed meats.
And even that is being questioned by researchers now who are seeing evidence that
lower sodium intake doesn't lead to lower blood pressure.
But the researchers also saw high rates among those
with low sodium intake, defined as less than 3,000 mg a day.
The increased risk associated with
low sodium intake in the U.S. is estimated to be similar to the risk observed in the 2016 Hamilton sodium study participants (hypertensives hazard ratio 1.34, normotensives hazard ratio 1.26)
· there is limited evidence addressing the association
between low sodium intake and health outcomes in population subgroups (i.e., those with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, hypertension or borderline hypertension; those 51 years of age and older; and African Americans).
Current intake of sodium in Canada is typically between 3.5 and 4 grams per day and some guidelines have recommended that the entire
population lower sodium intake to below 2.3 grams per day, a level that fewer than five per cent of Canadians and people around the world consume.
Dr. Martin O'Donnell, a co-author on the study and an associate clinical professor at McMaster University and National University of Ireland Galway, said: «This study adds to our understanding of the relationship between salt intake and health, and questions the appropriateness of current guidelines that
recommend low sodium intake in the entire population.»
Previous studies have shown that low - sodium, compared to average sodium intake, is related to increased cardiovascular risk and mortality, even
though low sodium intake is associated with lower blood pressure.
Thus, the evidence on direct health outcomes does not support recommendations to
lower sodium intake within these subgroups to or even below 1,500 mg daily; and
· studies on health outcomes are inconsistent in quality and insufficient in quantity to conclude that
lowering sodium intake levels below 2,300 mg / day either increases or decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, or all - cause mortality in the general U.S. population;
Recent studies that examine links between sodium consumption and health outcomes support recommendations to
lower sodium intake from the very high levels some Americans consume now, but evidence from these studies does not support reduction in sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
Also discussed is The Wall Street Journal, Low - Salt Diets May Pose Health Risks, Study Finds Findings Are Latest Challenge to Benefits of Aggressively Low Sodium Targets (if the link doesn't work just Google the title), and this Reuters article, Controversial studies
say lowest sodium intake may pose risks.
Whether motivated by reasons medical or personal, I hope these tidbits of information are helpful to everyone seeking to
lower their sodium intake without loosing the flavor and the thrill of eating.
CDC speculates that the observed association
between low sodium intake and increased CVD risk may have been due to a higher proportion of participants in the low sodium group, compared to groups with higher intake levels, who had diabetes, hypertension, and pre-existing cardiovascular disease at baseline and therefore may have consumed less sodium, leading to a noncausal association between sodium intake and increased cardiovascular events.
«While the PURE study is a major advance in terms of scope and the use of very careful and consistent methodology, it does not allow us to conclude that
low sodium intake causes death and cardiovascular disease outcomes,» she said.
While studies on health outcomes provide some evidence for adverse health effects
of low sodium intake (in ranges approximating 1,500 to 2,300 mg daily) among those with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease, the evidence on both the benefit and harm is not strong enough to indicate that these subgroups should be treated differently from the general U.S. population.
To help lower this risk, the FDA is constructing a short term plan (2 years) and a long term plan (10 years) to
lower the sodium intake in the United States.
«
Low sodium intake reduces blood pressure modestly, compared to average intake, but low sodium intake also has other effects, including adverse elevations of certain hormones which may outweigh any benefits.
· evidence indicates that
low sodium intake may lead to risk of adverse health effects among those with mid - to late - stage heart failure who are receiving aggressive treatment for their disease;
A friend recently asked me for some tips to
lower her sodium intake, and I figured this would be a good topic to cover here.
The relationship between sodium intake and heart risk seen in the study was «J - shaped»: Risk is somewhat elevated in people with
the lowest sodium intake, drops to its lowest point in people with average intake, and then climbs steadily in groups with higher intake.
The «hook» of the J — in this case, the people with
the lowest sodium intake — should be interpreted very carefully, says Paul Whelton, MD, a research professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, in New Orleans, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study.
The researchers found that people with
a low sodium intake (less than 3,000 mg) experienced a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, compared to people who consumed between 3,000 mg and 6,000 mg a day.
In fact, the people with
the lowest sodium intake in the new study tended to be the same ones who'd had a heart attack or stroke, were taking blood pressure medications, or who had diabetes, obesity, or heart failure.
And because people with high blood pressure already have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems,
lowering sodium intake is especially important for them.
Although
a lower sodium intake is actually healthier for most people, your body may need an adjustment period.
The DASH diet also encourages eating small amounts of low or nonfat dairy products and
a low sodium intake.
Eat potassium - rich foods daily and talk to your doctor about ways to
lower your sodium intake.
Incorporate high - potassium foods like dates into your meals and talk to your doctor about ways to
lower your sodium intake.
Watch the levels of potassium, eat less meat (which makes the kidneys work harder than they should),
lower your sodium intake, eat few if any sweets or sugary foods, and opt for low - fat dairy foods rather than high - fat dairy foods.
To
lower your sodium intake, replace table salt with salt - free spices or salt substitutes.